Thanks for all your help on this board.

As euronatura and brewtoo suggested, this problem may have been caused by a faulty voltage regulator. So, acting on their advice, I purchased the Bosch regulator to see how this would go.

I took it home and quickly found the mount on the side of the alternator. After disconnecting the battery cables (for safety), I unscrewed the old voltage regulator out. GUESS WHAT? One of the two metal prongs fell out as I removed the regulator from the alternator. I wonder how that might have happened? How long are these regulators supposed to last?

Then again, that explains how the car went down so suddenly. I still wonder how come the ABS brakes had to actuate when the car went down. The connection between ABS and voltage amazes me...

After the replacement went in, I jump-started the car as before. The car still ran after I removed the jumper cables, and so far it runs great.

Thank you all for your help!